Lockable storage container for recorded media

ABSTRACT

A lockable media storage container has a sliding member that is movable between locked and unlocked positions. In the locked position, the sliding member engages the lid to hold the lid in the closed position. A blocking member prevents the sliding member from moving from the locked position to the unlocked position until the blocking member is intentionally broken. In another embodiment of the invention, a clip or a pair of clips are used to hold the media storage container in the closed condition. The container remains locked until the clip is intentionally destroyed. The clip may be destroyed by the retail clerk or by the consumer when the container is removed from the retail establishment. Both of these embodiments are described as being used with a standard-sized jewel case.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. provisionalapplication serial No. 60/336,594 filed Dec. 4, 2001; the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention generally relates to storage containers forrecorded media and, more particularly, to a lockable media storagecontainer that is sized the same as a standard jewel box.

[0004] 2. Background Information

[0005] Jewel boxes for compact discs have become widely accepted overthe past twenty years. Although jewel boxes are commonly used to storecompact discs, they may be used for any type of media disc that has thesame, or lesser, diameter as the compact disc. For instance, a jewel boxmay be used to hold a mini disc or a DVD.

[0006] Retail establishments desire locking devices that prevent thedisc from being readily removed from the jewel box. Although varioustypes of locks and locking containers have been developed, the art lacksa lockable jewel box that is easy to manufacture, use, and unlock whileproviding a secure container that frustrates shoplifters.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention provides a lockable media storage container thathas a sliding member that is movable between locked and unlockedpositions. In the locked position, the sliding member engages the lid tohold the lid in the closed position. A blocking member prevents thesliding member from moving from the locked position to the unlockedposition until the blocking member is intentionally broken. In oneembodiment of the invention, the member is an element of a jewelbox-sized storage container.

[0008] In another embodiment of the invention, a clip or a pair of clipsare used to hold a jewel box in the closed condition. The containerremains locked until the clip is intentionally destroyed. The clip maybe destroyed by the retail clerk or by the consumer when the containeris removed from the retail establishment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the spine of the first embodimentof the invention showing the locking clip detached with the slidingmember in the locked position.

[0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the spine of the first embodimentof the invention showing the locking clip attached with the slidingmember in the locked position.

[0011]FIG. 3 is a top view of a portion of the first embodiment of theinvention showing the relative position of the literature holding tabwith the sliding member in the locked position.

[0012]FIG. 4 is a section view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

[0013]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of theinvention with the blocking member cut and dropped down into thecontainer.

[0014]FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the sliding member inthe unlocked position.

[0015]FIG. 7 is a section view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

[0016]FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the lockablemedia storage container showing the four main elements of the container.

[0017]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of theinvention in a closed and locked condition.

[0018]FIG. 10 is a top view of a portion of the second embodiment of theinvention showing the relative position of the literature holding tabwith the sliding member in the locked position.

[0019]FIG. 11 is a section view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

[0020]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of theinvention with the blocking member cut.

[0021]FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 10 showing the sliding member inthe unlocked position.

[0022]FIG. 14 is a section view taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

[0023]FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment ofthe lockable media storage container with a pair of locking clipsdetached from the container.

[0024]FIG. 16 is a section view taken along line 16-16 of FIG. 15.

[0025]FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of thelockable media storage container with a pair of locking clips attachedto the container.

[0026]FIG. 18 is a section view taken along line 18-18 of FIG. 17.

[0027]FIG. 19 is a section view taken along line 19-19 of FIG. 17.

[0028] Similar numbers refer to similar elements throughout thespecification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] The first embodiment of the lockable media storage container ofthe present invention is indicated generally by the numeral 100 in FIGS.1-7. The exemplary embodiment of container 100 is sized to have the samefootprint and thickness as a standard jewel box that is sized to runthrough automated loading equipment.

[0030] Container 100 generally includes a base 102 and a lid 104. Lid104 is connected to base 102 with a hinge. The hinge may include a pairof pins that extend towards each other from the spine end of base 102.Container 100 also includes a media storage tray 106 that has any of thevariety of hubs adapted to hold items of recorded media such as CDs andDVDs that are typically sold in jewel boxes. In this embodiment of theinvention, tray 106 functions as a lock slide that is slidably carriedby base 102 between locked and unlocked positions. Container 100 alsoincludes a lock clip 108 that locks tray 106 in the locked positionuntil the user destroys a portion of clip 108.

[0031] Container 100 is used by loading an item of recorded media ontotray 106 and then closing lid 104. Tray 106 is connected to base 102 byappropriate connectors that allow tray 106 to slide back and forthbetween the locked and unlocked positions. Lid 104 is then closed andtray 106 is then slid out to the locked position to hold lid 104 closed.Tray 106 may only slide a relatively small distance such as theexemplary distances (0.060-0.100 inches) to lock lid 104 in place. Clip108 is snapped into tray 106 with a pair of locking fingers 110 that arereceived in lock finger openings 112 formed in tray 106 in a one-waysnap fit connection. Clip 108 is snapped into the shelf 115 of tray 106.

[0032] Clip 108 includes a blocking member 114 that prevents tray 106from moving back to the unlocked position. Clip 108 includes a pair ofbridges 116 that are configured to be cut with a standard pair ofhousehold scissors. When bridges 116 are cut, blocking member 114 dropsdown into base 102 and tray 106 may be slid to the unlocked positionshown in FIGS. 5-7.

[0033] Tray 106 engages the literature holding tabs 120 of lid 104 whentray 106 is in the locked position. Tray 106 defines openings 122 thatare slightly larger than the profile of tabs 120 such that tabs 120 maybe moved through openings 122 to allow lid 104 to pivot to the openposition. FIG. 3 shows the locked position wherein the body of tray 106interferes with tabs 120 with FIG. 6 showing the alignment of tabs 120with openings 122. Lid 104 may include four tabs 120 to create a secureconnection.

[0034] The second embodiment of the lockable media storage container ofthe present invention is indicated generally by the numeral 200 in FIGS.8-14. The exemplary embodiment of container 200 is sized to have thesame footprint and thickness as a standard jewel box that is sized torun through automated loading equipment.

[0035] Container 200 generally includes a base 202 and a lid 204. Lid204 is connected to base 202 with a hinge. The hinge may include a pairof pins 205 that extend towards each other from the spine end of base202. Container 200 also includes a media storage tray 206 that holds theitem of recorded media to be held by container 200. Container 200further includes a lock slide 207 that is slidably carried by base 202between locked and unlocked positions. Lock slide 207 is disposedbetween tray 206 and base 202. Lock slide 207 includes a blocking member208 that engages another portion of container 200 to prevent containerfrom being unlocked until blocking member 208 is severed from lock slide207. Lock slide 207 includes the spine wall 209 of container 200 whenlock slide 207 is in the unlocked position.

[0036] Container 200 is used by loading an item of recorded media ontotray 206. Tray 206 is then positioned over lock slide 207 with thelocking hooks 211 of tray 207 extending up through tray 206. In anotherembodiment of the invention, hooks 211 remain under tray 206. In both ofthese embodiments, hooks 211 are configured to engage the literatureholding tabs 220 projecting from lid 204. Tabs 220 are disposed high onthe sidewall of lid 204 when hooks 211 project up through tray 206 andare disposed low on the sidewall (position 220A of FIG. 8) of lid 204when hooks remain under tray 206. The two positions are depicted in FIG.8. When tabs 220A are disposed low on the sidewall of lid 204, tabs 220may also project from the high position and may be used to hold printedliterature.

[0037] Lock slide 207 is connected to base 202 by appropriate connectorsthat allow lock slide 207 to slide back and forth between the locked andunlocked positions. When in the unlocked position, lid 204 may be openedbecause hooks 211 are not hooked on tabs 220. In the locked position,hooks 211 engage tabs 220 to prevent lid 204 from being opened.

[0038] Lock slide 207 is held in the locked position by blocking member208 until it is severed. Tray 206 defines an opening 230 that allows theuser to insert the tips of scissors through tray 206 in order to severmember 208. Once severed, blocking member 208 stops preventing lockslide 207 from sliding and the user may slide lock slide 207 to theunlocked position. Appropriate barbs or locking fingers may be providedbetween lock slide 207 and base 202 to prevent lock slide 207 frommoving back to the locked position.

[0039] The third embodiment of the lockable media storage container ofthe present invention is indicated generally by the numeral 300 in FIGS.15-19. The exemplary embodiment of container 300 is sized to have thesame footprint and thickness as a standard jewel box that is sized torun through automated loading equipment.

[0040] Container 300 generally includes a base 302 and a lid 304. Lid304 is connected to base 302 with a hinge. The hinge may include a pairof pins that extend towards each other from the spine end of base 302.Container 300 also includes a media storage tray 306 that is carried bybase 302. Container 300 also includes a lock clip 308 or a pair of lockclips 308 that lock tray container 300 in a locked position until theuser destroys a portion of clip 308.

[0041] Base 302 and lid 304 define locking finger openings 310configured to receive the locking fingers 312 projecting outwardly fromclip 308. In one embodiment, locking fingers 312 may include barbs thatlock clip 308 onto container 300 when fingers 312 are inserted intoopenings 310. In another embodiment of the invention, fingers 312 arefree of barbs so that they may be removed from container 300 after clip308 is severed. When fingers 312 are free of barbs, secondary lockingfingers 314 are used to connect clip 308 to base 302 and lid 304. Base302 and lid 304 may define openings or ledges 316 that receive fingers314 in a snap fit connection. Clip 308 is design to be severed byhousehold scissors so that lid 304 may be opened. Once clip 308 issevered, the two halves may be removed from container 300.

[0042] Base 302 and lid 304 may define recesses 320 that cooperate toform a common recess sized slightly larger than clip 308 so that clip308 does not protrude from base 302 and lid 304 when clip 308 is lockedin place. Clip 308 thus allows a standard-size jewel case to be securelylocked.

[0043] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used forbrevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are tobe implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art becausesuch terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to bebroadly construed.

[0044] Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is anexample and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown ordescribed.

1. A lockable media storage container comprising: a base; a lidincluding at least two literature holding tabs; the lid connected to thebase and movable between open and closed positions; a lock slide havinga locking portion disposed between the lid and the base when the lid isin the closed position; the lock slide movable between locked andunlocked positions; in the locked position, the lock slide engaging theliterature holding tabs of the lid to lock the lid in the closedposition; and the lock slide adapted to hold an item of recorded media.2. The container of claim 1, wherein the lock slide includes a hubadapted to hold one of a CD and a DVD.
 3. The container of claim 2,wherein the hub is connected to the locking portion of the lock slide.4. The container of claim 1, further comprising a lock clip disposedbetween the lock slide and the base; the lock clip adapted to hold thelock slide in the locked position.
 5. The container of claim 4, whereinthe lock clip includes a blocking member that engages the base when thelock slide is in the locked position to prevent the lock slide frommoving from the locked position to the unlocked position.
 6. Thecontainer of claim 5, wherein the blocking member is adapted to besevered from the lock clip.
 7. The container of claim 6, wherein thebase defines a chamber adjacent the blocking member to receive thesevered blocking member to allow the lock slide to moved from the lockedposition to the unlocked position.
 8. The container of claim 4, whereinthe lock clip is snap fit to the lock slide.
 9. The container of claim1, wherein the base and lid have external dimensions substantially thesame as a standard jewel box when the lid is closed and the lock slideis in the unlocked position.
 10. The container of claim 1, wherein thelock slide defines openings sized to allow the literature holding tabsto pass through the openings when the lid is moved from the closedposition to the open position with the lock slide in the unlockedposition.
 11. The container of claim 10, wherein the openings of thelock slide are not aligned with the literature holding tabs when thelock slide is in the locked position.
 12. An improved jewel box forholding CDs and DVDs, the jewel box having a base and a lid connected tothe base and movable between open and closed positions; the lidincluding at least one literature holding tab; the jewel box furtherincluding a tray adapted to hold the CD or DVD; the improvementcomprising: the tray being movable between locked and unlocked positionswherein the tray engages the literature holding tab in the lockedposition to prevent the lid from moving from the closed position to theopening position.
 13. The improvement of claim 12, wherein the traydefines an opening that allows the literature holding tab to passthrough the opening when the lid is moved from the closed position tothe open position with the lock slide in the unlocked position.
 14. Theimprovement of claim 12, wherein the lock clip includes a blockingmember that engages the base when the lock slide is in the lockedposition to prevent the lock slide from moving from the locked positionto the unlocked position.
 15. The improvement of claim 14, wherein theblocking member is adapted to be severed from the lock clip.
 16. Alockable media storage container comprising: a base; a lid including atleast two literature holding tabs; the lid connected to the base andmovable between open and closed positions; a tray positioned between thelid and the base when the lid is in the closed position; the trayadapted to hold an item of recorded media; a lock slide having a lockingportion disposed between the tray and the base; the lock slide movablebetween locked and unlocked positions; and in the locked position, thelock slide engaging the literature holding tabs of the lid to lock thelid in the closed position.
 17. The container of claim 16, wherein thetray defines openings adjacent the literature holding tabs when the lidis closed; the lock slide including hooks that project up through theopenings of the tray.
 18. The container of claim 17, wherein the hooksof the lock slide engage the literature holding tabs of the lid when thelid is closed and the lock slide is in the locked position.
 19. Thecontainer of claim 16, wherein the lock slide includes a blocking memberthat engages the base to prevent the lock slide from moving from thelocked position to the unlocked position.
 20. The container of claim 19,wherein the tray defines an opening aligned with the blocking memberthat allows the blocking member to be severed.